Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Nageswarar Temple, Kundrathur – The Temple

Nageswarar Temple, Kundrathur – The Temple

The east
facing temple has a five-tiered Rajagopuram with two prakarams. This temple is
also called Vada Thirunageshwaram. This temple is also considered as one of the
Navakailasams in Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Nageswarar. The sanctum is east facing
and enshrines the big Swayambu Shiva Linga. The Naagar around the deity is
considered the ‘Rahu’ for worship.

Pariharams
(remedial worship) for Rahu are done here, especially during Rahu Kethu
Peyarchi and also during Rahu Kaalam (4.30 pm to 06.00 pm) on Sundays. Lord
Shiva-Nageswarar represents the attributes of planet Raghu. Milk abishekam is
performed to Lord at 6-30-10.00 a.m and at 5.00 p.m. Those afflicted by this
Dosha, participate in this ritual, also perform abishek during Raghu Kala time,
offer Ulundu dal and rice prepared with Ulundu dal.

The
preparation is available in the temple itself. For relief from the adverse
aspect of the planet, the temple is considered the best religious destination. A
Utsava idol of Kamakshi is also found in the same sanctum. The
entrance has big Dwarapalas and a small Ganesha idol. The flag staff, Nandi
mandapam and bali peetha are found facing towards the sanctum.

A small
Ganesha idol is situated near the flag staff. Ganesha, Dakshina Murti,
Vishnu, Brahma and Durga are found as the niche idols. Chandikeswarar is found
in his usual location. The sanctum is with Artha and maha mandapam. Mother is
called as Kamakshi. There is a separate south facing shrine enshrining Kamakshi
with her Lion Vahana in the Arthamandapam. Rose water abishek is performed to
Mother on Thai Fridays in January-February.

Sekkizhar
graces from a separate shrine in standing form in prakara facing west worshipping
the Lord with Chinmudra and holding palm leaves in hand. Special abishek is
performed to the poet saint on all Poosa star days. There is a separate
Navagraha sannidhi in the outer praharam. The temple also houses Kasi
Viswanathar, Arunachaleswarar in the inner praharam and in the outer praharam
there is a temple for Lord Saneeswaran.

The
Vinayaka is Lord Anugai Vinayaka. Lord Satyanarayana in form of a serpent,
Nagendrar and Lord Naga Nadheswarar grace from their shrines in the Prakara.
There is Shiva Linga in the middle of these three serpents. There are also
shrines for Mothers Lakshmi and Saraswathi, Lord Muruga with his consorts Valli
and Deivanai and Lord Karpaga Vinayaka. Surya Pushkarani is very large and
beautiful which is seen outside the temple on the south-eastern side.

There
are Shrines of Utsava Idol of Sekkizhar, Somaskanda, various Utsava idols, Natarajar-Shivakami,
of Surya, Sundarar in sitting posture with Paravai Nachiyar, Nalvar, Kalinga
Nardana Krishna, Somaskanda, Bhairava and Veera Bhagu in the Temple premises. Sthala
Viruksham (holy tree) for this temple is ‘Shenbaga Maram’ and Theertham is
‘Surya Pushkarani’.

There
are about 45 Inscriptions around the sanctum wall. As per the inscriptions the
temple was built during Kulothunga Chozhan Period i.e 1070 CE. The inscriptions
also speak about donations made for Burning lamp, Food Offerings, Three kala
Pooja. Most of the inscriptions belongs to Kulothunga Chola I, Veera Rajendra
Chola, Rajaraja Chola III, Veerakanda Gopalan, Koperum Singan, Sundara
Pandiyan, Kulasekara Deva Pandiyan, Ekambaranatha Sambuvarayar Kambannan
and Hariharan.